The Dangerous Art of the Documentary
Filmmaker Tiller Russell, known for documentaries like Waco: American Apocalypse and Night Stalker, hosts in-depth conversations with fellow documentary filmmakers about their most successful, iconic, or recent films. Each episode explores the creative process, challenges, and stories behind the lens.
Episodes
Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller (Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song)
Co-Directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine reach into the vault to reflect back on their film “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song”, a beautiful film that tracks how the song "Hallelujah" went from being rejected by Cohen's record label to becoming a beloved global anthem. Dan and Dayna discuss the challenges of constructing the biography of an artist’s soul (3:30), earning Leonard’s trus
Orlando von Einsiedel (Cycle of Love)
Friend of the show and Oscar winning director Orlando von Einsiedel returns to the podcast to discuss his latest masterpiece, “Cycle of Love”, an inspiring, epic true-life adventure about self-belief, destiny, the courage to risk everything for love, and the power of human connection. In his conversation with Tiller, Orlando reflects on undertaking this massive story (4:00), filming around the wor
Maite Alberdi (A Child of My Own)
Director Maite Alberdi latest genre-bending film “A Child of My Own” blends narrative and nonfiction filmmaking to tell the wild true story of a woman who pretended to be pregnant and kidnapped a newborn baby from a hospital. Maite talks with Tiller about her creative inspirations (2:30), striking the complex tone of drama and outlandish humor (10:00), why she breaks the fourth wall in the film (1
Sara Dosa & Andri Magnason (Time and Water)
Director Sara Dosa’s latest film “Time and Water” follows Icelandic writer and poet Andri Magnason as he reflects on melting glaciers and his family's history. It premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. Sara and Andri join Tiller on the show to discuss when Andri first captured Sara’s imagination (5:30), how glaciers hold memories (11:30), the role of myth in the climate crisis (25:00), their c
Joshua Seftel (All The Empty Rooms)
Director Joshua Seftel’s Oscar-winning short documentary “All The Empty Rooms” follows veteran CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they embark on a seven-year-long project to document the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. Joshua shares with Tiller the origin of the film (2:00), respecting the spaces while still filming (14:00), how little objects
Isabel Castro (Selena y Los Dinos)
Director Isabel Castro’s latest Netflix documentary “Selena y Los Dinos”, featuring never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews, celebrates the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band. Selena talks to Tiller about falling in love with the genre of music documentaries (2:00), how she relates to Selena’s story (8:00), Selena’s legacy (19:00), ho
Felipe Bustos Sierra (Everybody to Kenmure Street)
Director’s Felipe Bustos Sierra’s latest film, “Everybody to Kenmure Street”, which chronicles the resistance to an immigration raid in Glasgow in 2021, is a brilliant and personal evocation of his own identity as the son of an exiled journalist by the Chilean dictatorship. In his discussion with Tiller, Felipe shares how injustice is a common language (4:00), when he knew that he had to make this
Lindsay Utz & Michelle Walshe (Prime Minister)
Co-directors Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe’s documentary “Prime Minister”, which premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim, chronicles Jacinda Ardern’s unexpected journey as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister, offering an unfiltered window into her personal journey of family, motherhood, democracy and hardship. They share with Tiller where this film began (5:30), their most incredible archival di
Filip Hammar (The Last Journey)
In the charming, heartfelt documentary “The Last Journey”, Swedish TV personality Filip Hammar embarks on a cross-country road trip with his ailing father with the goal of rekindling his zest for life. In his discussion with Tiller, Filip shares how the film has made his 80-year-old father the most beloved man in Sweden (2:30), the similarity between himself and Johnny Knoxville (17:00), how humor
David Terry Fine (Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam | Netflix)
David Terry Fine’s Netflix documentary “Dirty Pop” tells the story of Lou Pearlman, the architect of the modern boy band era and the extraordinary web of lies, deceit, exploitation and greed that propped up his music empire. In his discussion with Tiller, David reflects on his journey from the edit chair to the director’s chair (2:00), the importance of pushing against creative gatekeepers (11:30)
Gianfranco Rosi (Pompei: Below the Clouds)
Italian master Gianfranco Rosi makes some of the most ravishing big-screen nonfiction films you will find. His latest, “Pompei: Below the Clouds”, a black-and-white masterpiece shot with a fixed camera, explores the complex lives of the people living in a region that seems to always be teetering on the edge of a haunting archival status. In his conversation with Tiller, they discuss the love they
Julia Loktev (My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow)
Soviet-born filmmaker Julia Loktev came to Moscow in 2021 to make a film about independent journalists being declared “foreign agents” by Putin’s regime. Her film “My Undesirable Friends” ended up becoming a rare glimpse into the lives of brave female journalists speaking truth to power in the face of Putin’s war against Ukraine. In her discussion with Tiller, Julia shares how loneliness inspires
David Borenstein (Mr. Nobody Against Putin)
Director David Borenstein’s latest documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” is nominated for Best Documentary Feature in the 2026 Academy Awards. It follows a Russian teacher as he secretly documents his school becoming a war recruitment center during the Ukraine invasion. In his conversation with Tiller, David discussed the myth of the auteur director (3:00), adjusting his initial vision for the fi
Isaac Gale (Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted)
Director Isaac Gale’s film “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” follows cult musician Swamp Dogg, alongside housemates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, as they turn their home into an artistic playground. Isaac talks to Tiller about the singularity of Swamp Dogg as a film subject (2:25), finding the visual vibe of the film (16:30), subverting expectations for the audience (28:00), and the journey of gett
Tony Zierra (Filmworker)
Director Tony Zierra’s 2017 film “Filmworker” tells the story of Leon Vitali, who surrendered his promising acting career to become Stanley Kubrick’s devoted acolyte. In his discussion with Tiller, Tony talks about his surprising first impression of Leon (3:00), why Leon could not adapt to the culture of Hollywood (12:00), developing trust with his film subject (19:30), the tragedy of Leon’s life
Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman (The Alabama Solution | HBO Max)
Directors Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman take viewers deep inside one of the nation’s deadliest prison systems in their latest film “The Alabama Solution”, where incarcerated men defy the odds stacked against them to expose an explosive and shocking cover-up. They share with Tiller how this story inspired them (2:30), their co-directing method (6:45), the intention behind the cinematography
Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor | Netflix)
Director Geeta Gandbhir’s new film "The Perfect Neighbor" is largely made up of police bodycam footage, tracking the events of a seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalating into deadly violence. Geeta shares with Tiller how she got her first film job on Spike Lee’s “Malcom X” (2:00), discovering the trove of archival evidence (7:00), how the system failed the entire neighborhood and
Chai Vasarhelyi & Lynsey Addario (Love+War | National Geographic)
Pulitzer Prize-winning Lynsey Addario has risked her life to capture the stark realities of war — from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Ukraine. From National Geographic Documentary Films and Academy Award-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, “Love+War” chronicles Addario’s ascent in the male-dominated world of conflict photography. In their conversation, Tiller learns why this is
Gabe Polsky (The Man Who Saves the World? | In Theaters)
Director Gabe Polsky’s new documentary “The Man Who Saves the World?” tells the story of Patrick McCollum, a spiritual leader living in Moraga, California. The twist is this: certain Indigenous leaders in the Amazon believed Patrick is the answer to an ancient prophecy––the one who will unite and save the world. Gabe talks to Tiller about how he decided to dive all the way into this topic (3:45),
Rebecca Miller (Mr. Scorsese | Apple TV+)
Director Rebecca Miller’s latest five-hour docuseries profiles America’s greatest living director, Martin Scorsese. She talks to Tiller about how she framed her pitch to Scorsese (6:00), the selection of soundtrack (15:00), the importance of his key collaborators (24:00), how she took a cubist approach to Scorsese’s portrait (30:00), and what she learned about the art of directing (38:30).
Prod
Abel Ferrara (Turn in the Wound)
Legendary director Abel Ferrara’s latest film, “Turn in the Wound”, explores human conflict and the search for peace and balance through the music and words of Patti Smith in reflective conversation with the experiences of people at war in Ukraine. This is one interview Tiller has been looking forward to all his professional life. Abel shares with Tiller the secret to retaining his unflinching cre
Bill Banowsky & Paul O'Bryan (A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant)
Director Bill Banowsky and producer Paul O’Bryan’s latest film “A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant” chronicles the incredible life and career of political cartoonist Patrick Oliphant, which also provides a concise history of political cartoons, political polarization and corporate media control. In their discussion, Bill and Paul reflect on becoming friends with Pat Oliphant (2:00),
Amy Berg (It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley)
Director Amy Berg returns to the podcast to discuss her latest film, “It’s Never over, Jeff Buckley”, a portrait of the gifted musician who died tragically in 1997, having only released one album. Amy shares with Tiller how Jeff Buckley appealed to both masculine and feminine audiences (2:00), the impulsive nature of artists adding to their mythology (12:00), finding the right financiers and produ
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Folktales)
Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's life-affirming documentary “Folktales” tells the timely and heartwarming story of teenagers who choose to spend an unconventional "gap year" learning to dog sled and survive the Arctic wilderness, in hopes of finding connection and meaning in the modern world. In their discussion with Tiller, they share how this film came to fruition (4:00)
Mstyslav Chernov (2000 Meters to Adriivka | PBS)
Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov’s follow-up to “20 Days in Mariupol” is another masterful portrait of the war in Ukraine, titled “2000 Meters to Andriivka.” This film captures a Ukrainian platoon's mission: traverse a heavily fortified mile of forest to liberate a strategic village from Russian forces. Mstyslav shares with Tiller his experience capturing the harrowing search for humanity t
William Kentridge (Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot | MUBI)
William Kentridge's extraordinary nine-part series “Self-Portrait As A Coffee-Pot” is a vast, self-exploration into the creative labyrinthine mind of a prolific visual artist. In his discussion with Tiller, William ponders over the winding road of his creative process (3:30), how he interviewed himself for the film (9:30), uncovering the unconscious artistry within himself (21:00), the invaluable
David Gelb (Chef's Table | Netflix)
Filmmaker David Gelb’s series “Chef’s Table”, which profiles some of the most renowned chefs in the world, has been a major hit on Netflix for a decade now, spanning 7 seasons and 5 spinoffs. David reflects on how his vantage point has changed over 10 years of creating “Chef’s Table” (2:00), the development process with Netflix (8:45), how they select their chefs (15:30), the unenvious pressures i
Thom Zimny (Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & and the E Street Band)
Director Thom Zimny returns to the show to discuss his latest collaboration with Bruce Springsteen, “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.” Thom discusses with Tiller his 20-year-long creative process with Bruce (1:45), how the film mirrors the emotional ride of a Springsteen concert (12:00), humanizing the fan base (21:30), evoking the emotion behind the lyrics (27:00), starting th
Questlove (Ladies & Gentlemen...50 Years of SNL Music)
Oscar-winning documentarian, The Roots drummer, and music icon Questlove joins the show to talk about his latest documentary, “Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music.” The film takes audiences on a journey through the unparalleled musical legacy of Saturday Night Live, diving into the stories, surprises, and seismic impact of SNL’s musical guests. Questlove shares with Tiller how he first pitche
Liz Garbus (Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer | Netflix)
Academy Award nominee Liz Garbus joins Tiller to discuss her latest masterful contribution to the realm of true crime, “Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer”, a tense examination of the ongoing the hunt for the Long Island serial killer through the perspective of his victims, their loved ones and the police. Liz discusses with Tiller how the documentary film industry has changed over the last
Errol Morris (Chaos: The Manson Murders | Netflix)
Welcome to Season 4 of The Dangerous Art of the Documentary!
Oscar-winning director Errol Morris seeks to understand why
Charles Manson’s followers killed 7 people in 1969 through his latest work “Chaos: The Manson Murders”, a chilling exploration of a conspiracy of mind control, CIA experiments, and murder. Tiller starts the discussion by sharing how Errol inspired him to become a filmmaker
Kevin Macdonald (One to One: John & Yoko)
Acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Macdonald’s latest film “One to One: John & Yoko” provides a fresh lens into the lesser-known side of John Lennon’s life after The Beatles by incorporating never-before-seen footage of John and Yoko’s concert performance at Madison Square Garden and of their lives in New York's Greenwich Village. Kevin shares with Tiller how he came to direct both narrative and documentar
Lauren Stowell and Gabe Honig (Celtics City | HBO)
HBO’s latest 9-part series “Celtics City” chronicles the remarkable saga of the Boston Celtics, the NBA’s winningest and most storied franchise. Director Lauren Stowell and showrunner Gabe Honig join Tiller to discuss the first steps they took to starting such a monumental project (2:00), the weekly rhythm and delegation of responsibilities (16:00), collaborating through pressurized moments (28:00
Raoul Peck (Ernest Cole: Lost and Found)
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck’s latest film, “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found”, chronicles the profound life and work of Ernest Cole, one of the first Black freelance photographers in South Africa, whose work revealed to the world the realities of Black life during apartheid, and later, its echoes in New York City and the American South. Raoul shares with Tiller how he sees the difference betwe
Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie (Sugarcane)
A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, SUGARCANE, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2025, it bravely illustrates an investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school that
Angela Patton & Natalie Rae (Daughters)
“Daughters” presents the story of four young girls as they prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. For most of the daughters, the dance will be the only time they will be able to touch or hug their fathers during sentences, some of which are as long as 20 years. Co-directors Angela Patton and Nat
Dylan Reeve (Tickled)
In “Tickled”, a story stranger than fiction, journalist David Farrier and filmmaker Dylan Reeve uncover a strange tickling subculture. Delving deeper into the dark world of a tickling competition, they are with fierce resistance as they uncover a dark empire ensnaring and exploiting vulnerable young men. Dylan shares with Tiller how he and his co-director David Farrier blindly stumbled into this s
Gilad Baram (Koudelka Shooting Holy Land)
Gilad Baram is an Israeli photographer, visual artist and documentarian. His 2015 film “Koudelka Shooting Holy Land” follows iconic Czech photographer Josef Koudelka’s journey through Israel and Palestine as he captures the essence of that conflicted land. Tiller begins the discussion explaining how he thinks this film achieves rigorous artistic singularity (2:30), before Gilad shares why this was
Josh Greenbaum (Will & Harper | Netflix)
Director Josh Greenbaum’s latest documentary, “Will & Harper”, depicts an intimate portrayal of friendship, understanding and America as Will Ferrell and his recently transitioned close friend Harper Steele, former SNL head writer, embark on a cross-country road trip. Josh shares with Tiller the experience of being approached by Will and Harper with the initial film idea (2:30), Josh’s multi-step
Alexandre O. Philippe (Lynch/Oz)
The themes, images, and cultural vernacular of Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz continue to haunt David Lynch’s filmography. Is Lynch trapped in the Land of Oz? Through six distinct perspectives, Alexandre O. Philippe’s Lynch/Oz helps us reexperience and reinterpret The Wizard of Oz by way of David Lynch, delivering new appreciations of both. In his discussion with Tiller, Alexandre speaks about
R.J. Cutler (Elton John: Never Too Late | Disney+)
PART TWO! Director R.J. Cutler returns to the show to discuss his two latest biopic documentaries, “Martha” and “Elton John: Never Too Late.” In Part Two, R.J. discusses with Tiller about how Elton John walked into his life (0:35), the theme of mortality in the film (4:30), exploring the most raw emotional moments of Elton’s life (12:00), and how Elton's relationship with John Lennon fundamentall
R.J. Cutler (Martha | Netflix)
PART ONE! Director RJ Cutler returns to the show to discuss his two latest biopic documentaries, “Martha” and “Elton John: Never Too Late.” In Part One, RJ will share with Tiller how he and Martha first connected (3:00), creating a film around a potentially unreliable narrator (9:00), why Martha was the only on-camera interview in the film (12:00), how he prepared Martha to be vulnerable (14:30),
Edmund Stenson (Blink | Theaters & Disney+)
Directors Daniel Roher and Edmund Stenson’s latest film “Blink”, the follow-up to their Academy Award winning feature “Navalny”, follows a family taking their three children on an epic journey to see the beauty of the world before they lose their eyesight to an incurable condition. Edmund joins Tiller to discuss the nuances of capturing cinematic moments with verité (3:30), editing scenes in your
Maciek Hamela (In The Rearview)
Maciek Hamela’s minimalist debut film, “In the Rearview” is an expansive road trip through the Russian invasion of Ukraine that drove more than 15 million refugees — more than one-third of Ukraine’s population — in out of their homes and country. In this film, Maciek drives a van of Ukrainian refugees as they encounter numerous military checkpoints while trying to make their way to Poland. Maciek
Nenad Cicin-Sain (Kiss the Future | Paramount+)
Director Nenad Cicin-Sain’s latest film “Kiss the Future” covers the incredibly dire yet uplifting stories of underground art and music, which culminated in a live concert by the band U2, during the brutal four-year siege of Sarajevo. Nenad opens up about about his connection to Sarajevo and researching this story (2:30), creating a war film first and a concert film second (12:45), what made Matt
Fisher Stevens (Beckham | Netflix)
Actor, Producer, and Director Fisher Stevens is the creative force behind Netflix’s Emmy-nominated docuseries “Beckham”, which follows David Beckham's rise from humble working-class beginnings to football stardom, as well as all his personal turbulence along the way. Fisher shares with Tiller why he pivoted from acting to documentaries (2:00), the backstory behind his unlikely partnership with the
Sam Jones (Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off | Max)
Director, photographer, interviewer, and yes, amateur skateboarder Sam Jones reflects on the winding journey of directing “Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off”, a definitive, no-holds-barred look at the life and iconic career of skateboarding’s greatest to ever do it. Tiller and Sam discuss why Tiller is envious of Sam’s career (2:45), the backstory behind Sam’s debut documentary from 2002 about
Jeff Zimbalist (Skywalkers: A Love Story | Netflix)
Director Jeff Zimbalist returns to the podcast to discuss his second feature film of the year, “Skywalkers: A Love Story”, a thrilling tale about a daring couple that performs acrobatics atop the world’s last super skyscraper. Jeff talks with Tiller about blending the genres of heist and romance (3:30), why this film had to be independently financed (11:00), interweaving the themes of love, risk a
Jeff Zimbalist (How To Come Alive With Norman Mailer)
Director Jeff Zimbalist’s latest film, HOW TO COME ALIVE WITH NORMAN MAILER, explores the rollercoaster life of America’s most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century, Norman Mailer. Prophet, hedonist, violent criminal, literary outlaw, and social provocateur, Mailer’s ideas about love, anger, fear, and courage cut to the core of human nature, are more relevant than ever today, an
Alex Gibney (In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon | Amazon & Apple TV+)
Academy and Emmy Award winning director Alex Gibney, head of the prolific doc studio Jigsaw Productions, has a new film about an old legend, Paul Simon. “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon”, is a look back on Paul Simon's extraordinary six-decade career as well as an intimate glimpse into his creative process as he is in the studio creating his newest album, Seven Psalms. In his discussio
Gabriela Cowperthwaite (The Grab | Amazon & Apple)
Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s newest film, “The Grab”, is an earth-shattering revelation. Over six years in the making, it follows the incredible work of an investigative journalist who uncovers the money, influence and alarming rationale behind covert efforts to control the most vital resource on the planet. In her discussion with Tiller, Gabriela reflects on her journey of starting to go dow
Rory Kennedy & Mark Bailey (The Synanon Fix | Max)
Acclaimed filmmakers Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey join Tiller to discuss their latest hit documentary “The Synanon Fix”, a four-part series that tracks the rise and fall of an organization that began as a rehab for heroin addicts and devolved into an egalitarian community that mandated vasectomies, shaved heads, partner swapping, bizarre social experiments, and ultimately, child abuse and attempte
Avi Belkin (Mike Wallace is Here | Max)
Director Avi Belkin’s masterful 2019 film “Mike Wallace is Here” offers an unflinching look at the legendary reporter, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures in his over fifty years on air. Unearthing decades of never-before-seen footage from the 60 Minutes vault, the film explores what drove and plagued Wallace, whose storied career, marked by aggressive reporting style and showmansh
Chris Hegedus (The War Room | Max, The Criterion Collection)
Renowned cinema verité filmmaker Chris Hegedus, along with her late husband and co-director D.A. Pennebaker, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1993 for “The War Room”, a fleet-footed and entertaining documentary following the brainstorming and bull sessions of Bill Clinton’s crack team of campaign consultants, especially James Carville and George Stephanopoulos, who became media stars in their
Bao Nguyen (The Greatest Night in Pop | Netflix)
Director Bao Nguyen’s new documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop” chronicles the dreamlike recording session for “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single sung by a motley crew of America’s biggest pop stars. In his conversation with Tiller, Bao reveals why he questioned if he was the right person to tell this story (3:00), his journey to find the long sought-after archival footage (8:40), the p
Jill Magid (The Proposal)
Artist-turned-filmmaker (and old friend of Tiller’s) Jill Magid joins the show to discuss her brilliant 2018 film “The Proposal”, which tracks her journey to recover the works of famed Mexican architect Luis Barragán from a Swiss bunker. Jill discusses with Tiller her artistic voyage from sculptor to filmmaker (3:40), her fascination with incorporating herself as a subject in her art (8:15), the p
Thom Zimny (SLY | Netflix)
In his new film “Sly”, filmmaker Thom Zimny offers an intimate perspective of the great Sylvester Stallone by delving into his Hollywood successes, personal pitfalls, underdog story and its parallels with the characters he brought to life. In his conversation with Tiller, Thom discusses finding the rhythm of the film (5:45), the dream space of editing an archival-based film (9:10), letting the the
Marilyn Agrelo (Mad Hot Ballroom)
This one is from the vault. If you haven't seen Mad Hot Ballroom from director Marilyn Agrelo, stop now and go check it out. It's a classic and a masterpiece. Centered around a ballroom dancing competition for fifth grade dance teams in New York City elementary schools, Agrelo captures a genuine and life-affirming transformation as a group of children evolve from reticent novices to confident cont
Lisa Cortés & Diego Hurtado de Mendoza (The Space Race | Disney+ & Hulu)
"The Space Race", a new film by directors Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, profiles the pioneering Black pilots, scientists, and engineers who joined NASA to serve their country in space, even as their country failed to achieve equality for them back on Earth. From 1963, when the assassination of JFK thwarted Captain Ed Dwight’s quest to reach the moon, to 2020, when the echoes of the civ
Brett Morgen (Moonage Daydream | Max)
Season 3 kicks off with one of the great nonfiction filmmakers working today, Brett Morgen - the director, writer and editor of the film "Moonage Daydream", which explores David Bowie's creative, spiritual, and musical journey. In his discussion with Tiller, Brett shares how a speech impediment led him to make documentaries (2:45), determining the visual style for each film (6:25), the making of h
Seth Porges (Class Action Park | Max)
Seth Porges and Chris Charles Scott’s darkly comedic hit film “Class Action Park” skirts the trappings of 1980s nostalgia and chronicles the unbelievable rise and fall of the most insane – and possibly the most dangerous – amusement park that ever existed. In his discussion with Tiller, Seth reflects on the universality of doing idiotic, dangerous things as kids (2:08), the vital tonal shift in th
Steve James (Hoop Dreams, A Compassionate Spy)
Filmmaker Steve James burst onto the scene in 1994 with his iconic documentary, "Hoop Dreams", a film that is widely considered one of the great works of American nonfiction cinema. His latest film, "A Compassionate Spy", tells the incredible story of Manhattan Project scientist Ted Hall, who, fearing the post-war risk of a nuclear holocaust, shared classified nuclear secrets with the Soviets. In
Kathryn Ferguson (Nothing Compares | Paramount+)
Kathryn Ferguson’s 2022 film “Nothing Compares” follows the career of celebrated singer Sinéad O'Connor through her rise to fame and explores the ways her iconoclastic personality led to exile from the pop mainstream. In today’s episode, Kathryn shares with Tiller the origin for the film (2:00), her writing process (10:00), interweaving archival with audio-only interviews (14:00), creating a visua
Rhys Thomas & Alex Buono (Documentary Now! | Netflix)
SNL directors and co-creators of the cult favorite Documentary Now! Rhys Thomas and Alex Buono join Tiller to discuss their mockumentary series starring Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, in which each episode is a masterful homage to a classic documentary film style. They reflect on their start at SNL (2:20), the blend of documentary and narrative storytelling (9:20), how much is improvised (13:50), th
Alison Ellwood & Anoosh Tertzakian (San Francisco Sounds | MGM+)
The two-part docuseries “San Francisco Sounds”, helmed by directing duo Alison Ellwood and Anoosh Tertzakian, celebrates the musical and artistic renaissance that exploded in the Bay Area from the mid-sixties into the mid-seventies. Featuring the music of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Steve Miller, and many more, it’s a glimpse into a time and place that changed the world of
Kartiki Gonsalves (The Elephant Whisperers | Netflix)
Kartiki Gonsalves is the first Indian Film Director to have ever won an Academy Award in the history of India, which she received for her 2022 short film “The Elephant Whisperers”. Available on Netflix, this film follows a a couple in South India who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant, forging a family like no other that tests the barrier between the human and the animal wo
Chris Passig (Telemarketers | HBO)
Editor Chris Passig’s latest work, HBO’s “Telemarketers”, follows the 20-year journey of two telemarketers as they vow to expose the scam behind the American telemarketing industry. This three-part documentary takes you from an anarchic, seedy New Jersey call center filled with booze, drugs, and debauchery to the halls of the United States Senate as the world's unlikeliest journalists uncover a de
Griffin Dunne (Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold | Netflix)
Actor, writer, producer, director, and loving nephew. Griffin Dunne is the only man who could have directed "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold", an intimate insight into the remarkable career and tragic struggles his aunt, literary icon Joan Didion. The 2017 film is a touching tribute which includes a trove of archival materials as well as an interview with Didion herself, one of her last appe
Simon Chinn (Searching for Sugar Man, Man on Wire)
The role of the Producer is complex, challenging, and ever-changing. Simon Chinn is a double Oscar-winning Producer who is responsible for some of the most successful feature documentaries of recent years, including “Man on Wire”, “Searching for Sugar Man”, and “LA92”. Simon shares with Tiller his thoughts on producing his first feature “Man on Wire” (1:48), pitching the film to director James Mar
Jeff Tremaine (Jackass)
Jeff Tremaine is the king of “Jackass”. As director, writer, and producer, he shepherded the hilarious daredevil phenomenon not only onto TV screens in 2000, but into 8 feature films, including the spinoff “Bad Grandpa” and 2022’s “Jackass Forever”. Yet behind the pranks, stunts, and pure Jackass-ery, there is a mastery of documentary filmmaking. Perhaps better than anyone else, Jeff has embodied
Julie Cohen (Every Body | In Theaters)
Director Julie Cohen, best known for her Oscar nominated film “RBG”, crafts a moving and eye-opening exploration of intersexuality in her new theatrical release, “Every Body.” By focusing on the lives of three intersex individuals – actor and screenwriter River Gallo, political consultant Alicia Roth Weigel, and Ph.D. student Sean Saifa Wall – Cohen foregrounds the ways the medical establishment a
Lesley Chilcott (Arnold | Netflix)
Filmmaker Lesley Chilcott – perhaps best known for producing “An Inconvenient Truth” – recently directed Netflix's “Arnold”: a 3-part documentary series examining the life, work and deeper side of the cigar-chomping Governator action movie star…Arnold Schwarzenegger. In her conversation with Tiller, she discusses peeling back the complex layers of Arnold’s story (4:50), her interview process with
Nick Rosen & Peter Mortimer (The Alpinist | Netflix)
Nick Rosen and Peter Mortimer make climbing films. It’s their world and expertise. And when they heard about Marc-Andre Leclerc, the Canadian free-spirited 23-year-old free soloist who was making some of the boldest ascents in history, they knew they had to track him down. Nomadic and publicity shy, he doesn't own a phone or car, and is reluctant to let a film crew in on his pure vision of climbin
Ondi Timoner (Last Flight Home)
Acclaimed director Ondi Timoner’s latest film “Last Flight Home” examines the last days of her father, Eli Timoner, and their family’s emotional turmoil as they grapple with his decision to end his own life. Through the film, Ondi journeys back through Eli's remarkable life to discover the true meaning of tragic loss and enduring love. In her discussion with Tiller, Ondi reflects on the decision t
R.J. Cutler (Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus and Mayhem in the USA | MGM+)
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Bonus Series! This is Episode Four of the companion podcast series for Tiller's new Netflix series, Waco: American Apocalypse.
Waco: American Apocalypse is a deep dive into the Netflix documentary series, exploring topics and interviews that didn’t make the final cut. In Episode Four, Tiller and Lee evaluate how the tragedy at Waco became a rallying cry for the anti-government movement within A
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Waco: American Apocalypse is a deep dive into the Netflix documentary series, exploring topics and interviews that didn’t make the final cut. In Episode Two, Tiller speaks with Robert Rodriguez, an undercover agent with the ATF who embedded with David Koresh and the Bran
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